January 23, 1020 - For Immediate Release

Beavers 55th Awards Dinner

Thomas R. Draeger, president of the Beavers, presided over the the 55th Annual Awards Dinner held Friday, January 22, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Despite the weak economy, the attendance for the dinner was over 2,000, an increase of nearly 100 from the previous year. The guest speaker for the event was former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
The recipients of the 2010 Golden Beaver Awards were:

James D. Waltze, Chairman and CEO of Griffith Company, Brea, California, received the Management Award. Jim started with the company in 1973 as an estimator, working his way up through the ranks to executive vice president in 1986 and president in 1992. He has served as Griffith’s Chairman and CEO since 1996. Jim served as the national president of the Associated General Contractors in 2004, as well as president of the Beavers in 2008.

The Engineering Award was presented to Lee A. McIntire, CEO of CH2M Hill. Englewood, Colorado. A civil engineering graduate of the University of Nebraska, McIntire has more than 30 years of international engineering and construction experience. He spent 15 years at Bechtel, rising to executive vice president of the parent company, serving on the board of directors as well as president of several of Bechtel’s multi-billion companies. McIntire joined CH2M Hill as president and chief operating officer in 2006, adding the CEO title in 2008.

Martin “Dutch” Vliegenthart, vice president and Midwest Region Operations Manager for J. F. Shea Construction, Inc., Walnut, California, received the Golden Beaver award for Supervision. A native of the Netherlands and 22-year veteran with Shea, Vliegenthart has successfully completed over 55 miles of tunnels, shafts and chambers as a superintendent, project manager and regional operations director during his 48 years in underground construction.

Alfonso “Al” Fernandez, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Volvo Construction Equipment & Sales, was presented the Service and Supply Award. A Mining Engineering graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Al started his career as an office engineer trainee for Ingersoll-Rand before being assigned as a sales engineer in Mexico. In 1979 he joined the sales department of I-R’s Pico Rivera, California office and in 1987 was named sales manager of the company’s San Leandro, California. He was promoted to vice president and branch manager two years later and became Regional Vice President in 2002, continuing to hold this position after Volvo’s acquisition of Ingersoll-Rand in 2007.

A Special Award was presented to a very surprised Dave Woods, Executive Director of the Beavers, in recognition of his ten years with the organization.

At the conclusion of the dinner R. M. “Mike” Phelps, Executive Vice President of Kiewit Corporation, was installed as the 2010 President of the Beavers.

For Additional Information Contact:

Dave Woods, Executive Director
The Beavers, Inc.
Tel: 650/694-4834
E-mail: dave.woods@thebeavers.org